China named former navy commander Dong Jun as the country's new defense minister, state-run media said Friday, after Li Shangfu, who had held the portfolio, was removed from the post in October amid speculation over his involvement in a corruption case.
Dong's appointment was decided at a Standing Committee session of the National People's Congress, China's parliament, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Since disappearing from public view in late August, no information on Li's condition has been available.
With the new defense chief named, China and the United States are expected to resume high-level security dialogue by arranging a meeting between Dong and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The leaders of the two major powers agreed in November on the restart.
Last week, Gen. Charles Brown, head of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Liu Zhenli, chief of the Chinese military's Joint Staff Department, discussed in their virtual talks the importance of working together to "avoid miscalculations," according to the U.S. side.
The ouster of Li followed the removal of Qin Gang as foreign minister in July after he was mysteriously absent from public duties. China's top diplomat Wang Yi was reinstated to the post to replace Qin.
The sacking of both foreign and defense chiefs is an unusual development for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who started his norm-breaking third five-year term in October last year with a leadership dominated by loyalists.
Dong is an admiral who served as the navy commander between 2021 and earlier this year.
Speculation is rife that Li, appointed defense minister during a parliamentary session in March, could be linked to a possible corruption case involving two former top generals of the military's Rocket Force.
The two from the force overseeing a unit handling nuclear weapons were replaced in July without explanation, triggering rumors that they were being investigated over corruption.
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